Inmarsat’s new satellite communications system promising faster, wider and global broadband services to ships has gone live with the claim it will be a game changer.
The new system, Fleet Xpress, aims to allow vessel operators to use business applications over the internet in much the same way as they would onshore at fixed costs.
Inmarsat is confident that the launch of Fleet Xpress will herald a new era of maritime communication, by engendering an influx of applications designed to increase ship efficiency, crew welfare and vessel security.
Peter Broadhurst, vice president of service development at Inmarsat, claimed: “This is a paradigm moment in shipping.”
Until now applications have proven too costly, as shipowners have lacked the means to adapt their data packages to suit oscillating data consumption at sea. With Inmarsat, customers will be capable of tailoring their data traffic to match requirements, as and when they please.
Broadhurst stresses that Fleet Xpress will facilitate progress in the maritime industry. He claims that 500-600 application developers have approached Inmarsat to create products that can be accessed via the system. Application development will innovate shipping, Broadhurst says.
In 2015 Inmarsat launched their I-5 satellite constellation. These three Ka-band satellites provide worldwide coverage of the Global Xpress network.
Fleet Xpress is a combination of the high power Global Xpress network and the longstanding lower capacity Fleet Broadband, providing an unlimited back-up.
Packages at launch are 36-month contracts, with a 90-day grace period to adjust the plan to meet the customer’s specificities.
Contracts can be upgraded at no penalty, however downgrades are penalized by 25% of the remaining contract period. Seasonal suspension options are also provided.
